Tent pin, stake, or the like



- March 6, 1928. 1,661,867

E. ARMSTRONG TENT PIN, STAKE, OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1924 Cal Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIOT ARMSTRONG, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NORTO NIAGARA METAL STAMPING CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

TENT PIN, STAKE, on THE LIKE.

7 Application filed May 15, 1924; Serial no. 713,477.

This invention relates to sheet metal pins or devices such as tent pins, picket pins, stakes and the like.

Pins or stakes of this character have been made having a body portion of sheet metal formed with angularly disposed side webs or walls, and having hooks or other connecting or securing devices fastened thereto In some constructions the hook member s secured by pressing the ends of the side walls together with the end of the hook between them and then riveting the head to retain the hook in place. This construction is objectionable forthe reason that the con: tracted web portions used to form the heads are liable to spread or collapse when the pins are driven into the ground, thus rendering the pin or stake useless, and owing to the fact that they are made of two or more parts, they are relatively expensive to manufacture.

()ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a one piece, sheet metal tent pin, stake or the like having a strong striking portion and an integral hook or part.

adapted ,to engage and secure tent ropes, loops or the like, to fasten or hold down the edges of tent walls, or which may be used as a tethering pin or stake, or for other purposes.

Another objeet of the invention is to provide a construction in which the portion of.

the pin or stake adjacent the hook or securing means is reinforced or strengthened; also to provide a pin or stake of this kind in which there are no sharp edges or surfaces to engage and cut into the rope or other object :to be secured; and also to simplify and cheapen the manufacture of, and to improve the construction of metal pins or stakes in the other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear View of a tent pin or stake embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the upper portion of the pin.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View thereof on line 4P4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section thereof on.

line 55, Fig. 2.

The pin to which the improvements of the present invention are applied is made of sheet metal, and is provided with a body portion 10, preferably of trough-like or Vshape,

having opposite angularly disposed side webs 11 which converge to form the bottom of the trough or back 12 of the pin.

i The side webs 11 are preferably tapered or narrowed towards the lower end ofthe stake to form a reduced entering portion, adapting the stake to be readily driven into the ground. y

The pin or stake is provided with a striking portion or head 13 which is preferably formed by bringing together the opposed upper ends of the webs 11, see Fig. 3, so that they abut or contact face to face, and then welding the contacting parts together to form a strong, permanent connection between them which will resist the striking blows and prevent the head from spreading or collapsmg. welded as shown at 13;

The-portions lei of the webs 11 below and adjacent the head 13 diverge downwardly as shown and merge gradually into the trough like body portion 10.

Theinvention provides integral means, preferably in the form of a hook member for retaining the tent rope'orother object in connection with the pin. As shown in the drawings, the back 12 of the trough, adjacent the head 13, has a tongue or hook portion 15 which is formed by striking or stamping out a portion of the body, and which is bent outwardly and downwardly away from the back of the stake. This hook is preferably curved as shown and is of proper form to adapttlie staketo secure the The upper ends are preferably spot tent rope, as by placing the hook over the dinary usage. This formation of the hook also provides a smooth, convex or rounded under bearing surface for the rope.

By striking out the hook 15 as described, an aperture 16 is left in the bottom or back 12 of the body portion 10 which somewhat reduces the width of the side webs 11 at.

this point, and the strength of this portion of the pin would be consequently somewhat weakened unless provision is made for strengthening these reduced web portions. For this purpose, as shown in the drawings, the side webs ll-are each provided between the aperture 16 and their front edges with a longitudinal rib 17 formed by stamping or pressing, and extending substantially parallel to the aperture 16 and to the edge of the web. These ribs 11? stillen and reinforce the wallsat this point and prevent them from collapsing. twisting or bending when the stake is driven into the ground.

The described construction of the pin or stake provides a strong, rigid, one-piece sheet metal device which can be readily stamped and inexpensively produced in large quantities and provides a practical tent stake or the like adapted to withstand rough usage and adequately fulfill its intended purpose. The portions of the pin or stake which are subjected to the greatest strains and wear, such as the head, tongue and adjacent body web parts are all reinforced to fully \vitlistamltlie driving blows received in, use without buckling or breaking.

I claim as my invention l. A sheet metal device of the sort described comprising longitndinal angularly disposed side webs which converge to form an integral body portion hoving a longitudinal median ridge, a. striking head formed by pressing and securing together the webs at one end of the device, an integral hook formed by stamping outa part of said ridge, and an integral reinforcement formed in each of said webs adjacent the aperture formed by striking outsaid hook member, said reinforcements being adapted to prevent bending of said device adjacent said hook when said head is struck.

i 2. A sheet metal device of the sort described comprising longitudinal angularly disposed side webs connected along one side of each to form a body portion having a longitudinal median ridge, a striking head integral with said body portion and disposed at the upper end thereof, an integral earse? hook member disposed below and adjacent said head and which is formed by striking out a part of said ridge, and integral beads on said bodylportion which extend substantially parallel to the aperture formed by striking out said hook member, and said beads being disposed substantially perpendicular to said head to prevent the collapse oi the apertured part of said device when blows are delivered on said head.

3. A. sheet metal device of the sort described comprising longitudinal angularly disposed side webs connected along one side of each to form a body portion having a longitudinal median ridge, a striking head integral with said body portion and disposed at the upper end thereof, an integral book member disposed below and adjacent said head and which is formed by striking out a part of said ridge and adjacent portions of said side webs, and integral beads formed in said webs adjacent to and at; opposite sides of the aperture formed by striking out said hook member, said beads being disposed so as to resist blows delivered on said head and prevent the parts of said webs adjacent said aperture from spreading apart.

4. A sheet metal device of the sort described comprising longitudinal angularly disposed lint side webs connected along one side of each to form a V-shaped body portion having a longitudinal, median ridge, a striking head formed by pressing and securing together said flat webs at the upper end oi. the device, an integral hook disposed below said head and which is formed by striking out a portion of said ridge and adjacent parts oi said side webs whereby said hook is given a substantially angular cross section, and. reinforcements formed integrally in those portions of said webs which have been weakened by striking out said hook, and said reinforcements being extended in a direction to resist the blows delivered on said head to prevent deformation of said web portions.

ELIOT ARMSTRONG. 

